Pilotless Aircraft Set To Soar

Sanford Modelers' 'Birds' Can Do What The Big Planes Do. Model Buffs Say The Fly-in Will Be Fun And Educational.

October 13, 1996|By Andy Lee, Sentinel Correspondent

SANFORD — If the words ''model airplane'' bring to mind images of miniature aircraft, think again. The planes in the air at the Sanford Air Modelers Club's first Fly-In may surprise you.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 20 at Lee Dargue Field off State Road 46 near Geneva. Admission is $2 per carload.

Instead of just the miniature versions that are common to most model enthusiasts, planes with wingspans of up to 15 feet and features usually found on commercial aircraft will be on display on the ground as well as in the air.

There will be aircraft in the air at all times. Many of the models are designed after vintage planes.

''It's going to be a lot of fun, and also very educational,'' said Jay Fierro, coordinator of education and public relations for the Sanford Air Modelers Club. ''We expect modelers from all around the country. . . . Central Florida is a hotbed of radio-controlled model aircraft fliers, so there will be a lot of interesting planes and people there.''

The Sanford Air Modelers Club boasts 80 members and is part of a national organization called the Academy of Model Aeronautics, which is based in Muncie, Ind.

''Building something like an airplane by yourself and then flying it is a great experience, and an educational one as well,'' said Fierro, who is also a teacher. ''I use it to help kids learn basic math and physics. And it's a great help because you can display to them what it is you're talking about.''

Although the models are available at most hobby shops, building and flying the aircraft can be a complex endeavor. In fact, the models reach normal altitudes of a quarter-mile to a third of a mile. There are many similarities between the models and commercial planes, Fierro said.

''It's a lot like the big commercial jets. We use the same terminology, and the same principles apply, such as including the four forces that affect a plane in flight: lift, gravity, thrust and drag,'' he said. ''To be able to fly it yourself after building it is very gratifying.''

The Sanford Air Modelers Club is accepting new members. For more information about the club or the Fly-In, call Fierro at (407) 331-0985. Members of the club can be found just about every weekend at Lee Dargue Field. Observers are welcome to come watch and ask questions.

''We're open to anyone who wants to find out what we're about and anyone who is now a model aircraft expert,'' said Fierro. ''We're out to have fun. . . . It's a great thing for kids. In fact, a lot of commercial pilots started out this way.''